Skip loading mechanism



Oct. 20, 1942. M. E. FIRST SKIP LOADING MECHANISM Fild July 31, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. MAHLON ELFIRST ATTORNEYS.

Oct. 20, 1942. M. E. FIRST .7 2,299,386

SKIP LOADING MECHANISM Filed July 51. 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. MAHLON E. FIRST ATTORNEYS Oct. 20; 1942. E. FIRST SKIP LOADING MECHANISM Filed July 51, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR MAHLON E.F|RST ATTORNEYS Patented Oct. 20, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SKIP LOADING MECHANISM Mahlon E. First, Cleveland, Ohio, assignor to The C. 0. Bartlett & Snow Company, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio App'iication July 31, 1940, Serial No. 348,762 14 Claims. (Cl. 214-125) This invention relates to skip-loading mechanism, and more particularly, to an improved arrangement of mechanism by which movement of i a gate closure member or chute, through which materials are fed to a skip when in charging position, is automatically controlled by movement of the skip to and from charging position.

The invention is particularly designed for automatically operated skip-loading mechanism of the type wherein the skip is mounted for rolling movement on a steeply inclined track to and from charging position relative to the charging gate. Such apparatus is commonly provided with a chute or gate closure member which is pivotally mounted for movement between closed and open positions to control movement of the materials into the skip. It is customary to provide mechanism for causing the gate to move automatically to open position as the skip or bucket approaches charging position and for moving the gate to closed position after the bucket has received a supply of materials.

In controlling the movement of the gate closure member between its open and closed positions, the mechanism commonly in use is usually provided with a counterweight for holding the gate in closed position and a latching device for holding the gate in open position. An operating arm, which is adapted to be struck by the skip as it moves toward charging position, is provided to move the gate closure member to open position against the action of the counterweight.

Due to the weight of the parts involved, there is a relatively large amount of inertia tending to resist movement of the operating arm and gate closure member under the influence of the moving skip. Accordingly, when the rapidly moving skip strikes the operating arm, the mechanism is jarred severely and subjected to extremely heavy shocks by the impact of the rapidly moving bucket, thereby causing considerable wear and breakage of parts of the mechanism.

In order to eliminate the difliculties incident to the shock and jarring encountered in the use of such apparatus, this invention contemplates the provision of a novel form of control mechanism by which the action or operation of the gate in moving to and from closed position will be accomplished in a smooth and gentle manner. The mechanism employed for this purpose involves the use of camming mechanism by which the opening and closing movement of the gate is directly controlled by movement of the bucket without imparting a jarring movement to the gate. In connection with the mechanism employed for controlling the movement of the gate by the movement of the bucket, there is also employed a novel form of locking mechanism which is operable to lock the gate upon movement thereof to closed position, and to release the gate for movement to open position upon movement of the skip toward charging position.

With the foregoing in view, one'of the principal objects of this invention is to provide a novel form of control mechanism for a skip bucket and a discharge gate closure member by which movement of the gate closure member between open and closed positions will be controlled by movement of the skip to and from its charging position.

A further-object is to provide a novel form of locking mechanism automatically releasable solely by movement of the gate upon movement of the skip toward charging position without the necessity of employing any positively actuated devices to efiect a release of the locking mechanism to permit ,movement of the gate to open position.

A further object is to provide mechanism for effecting movement of the gate out of a normal closed position to a second closed position, together with a novel form of locking mechanism which is automatically releasable to permit movement of the gate to open position upon movement of the gate to the second closed position by the skip bucket.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, said invention, then, consists of the means hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims. The annexed drawings and the following description set forth in detail certain mechanism embodying the invention, such disclosed means constituting, however, but one of various mechanical forms in which the principle of the invention may be used.

In the drawings there is shown a preferred embodiment of the invention. In this showing:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view showing the position of the parts with the skip bucket in its charging position;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of a part of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1, and showing the position of the gate when locked in its closed position; 3

Fig. 3 is a broken-away, side elevational view of a part of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1, and showing the position of the gate relative to the control parts just prior to movement into locked position;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3, showing the Fig. is a sectional view'taken substantially on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 6-6 of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 'I'I of Fig. 4, parts having been illustrated as broken away centrally of this showmg.

Referring to the drawings, the letter A designates a material supply bin provided with a hopper discharge B, having a gate closure member C pivotally mounted thereon for movement between an open position, as shown in Fig. 1, to a closed position, as shown in Fig. 2. The gate C illustrated is of the type known as an undercut gate and when in opened position, is adapted to supply material from the hopper B to a skip or bucket D, mounted for movement to and from charging positions on a track E. The operation and construction of the foregoing parts are wellknown, this invention being limited to the control mechanism, to be described, mounted on the parts referred to,and by which movement of the gate C between its open and closed positions is controlled by movement of thebucket D to and from its charging position.

To control the movement of the gate C b movement of the skip D, an angle member I is secured to a side of the gate C, the angle member I having a flange 2 projecting laterally outwardly therefrom to provide a camming surface 3 for engagement with a roller 4, as best shown in Fig. 6. The flange 2 is formed in three portions angularly inclined with respect to each other in order to provide separat camming surfaces 3a, 3b and 30, as best shown in Figs. 3 and 4, for a purpose to be described. The roller 4 is rotatably mounted in brackets 5 rigidly secured to a side 6 of the skip D.

Locking mechanism, indicated as a whole by the numeral I, is provided for locking the gate C in closed position. The locking mechanism I,

' as best shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5,"cbmprises a detent or hook member 8 having a notch 9 for the reception of a locking part or roller I0, carried by the gate C. The hook member 8 is pivotally mounted on a shaft H carried by angle-iron brackets I2 and I3, the angle-iron I2 constituting a supporting member rigidly secured to the hopper B and the angle-iron bracket I 3 being carried by an angle bracket I4 rigidly secured to the upper flange of the supporting angle bracket l2.

An operating lever I5, having a roller I6 at the outer end thereof, for the hook member 8, is rigidly connected to the detent or hook member 8 for rotation therewith by means of a sleeve I'I having a welded connection with both the lever I5 and the hook member 8. As best shown in Fig. 3, most of the weight of the pivotal parts, including the operating lever I5 and detent 8, is to the right of the pin I I, providing a gravitational bias tending to move these parts in a clockwise direction to their unlocking position shown in Fig. 3. The hook 8 is provided with an abutment I8 engageable with the under-surface I9 provided by a laterally extending flange of the support I2 to mounting of the gate C on the hopper B. Upon movement of the locking part Ill into the notch 9, as shown in Fig. 4, these parts will interlockably engage with each other to prevent movement of the gate C and detent 8, under influence of their gravitational biases, respectively, to open and unlocking positions.

In order to effect movement of the lever I5 and thereby the hook member 8, against their gravitational bias to locking position, an actuating .member 20 is connected to the side of the skip D.

The actuating member 20 isprovided with an upwardly projecting flange 2| having a surface ZIa engageable with the roller I6, to effect a control action on the lever I5 and hook member 8 in a manner to be described.

Although the control parts have been described as being positioned respectively on one side only of the bucket D and gate C, it will be understood that such parts could advantageously b arranged centrally of the gate C, or alternatively, two sets of such control parts could be respectively arranged on opposite sides of the gateC and bucket D. The sectional view shown in Fig. 7 illustrates the construction wherein the control parts are thus provided on both .sides of the gate C and bucket D.

'The operation of the apparatus is as follows:

With the locking lug positioned in the notch 9, as shown in Fig. 4, the. gate C will be held in its closed position against movement under its gravitational bias, to open position. As pointed out heretofore, the interlocking engagement of the lug I0 with the hook member 8 will be operative to prevent movement of the pivotally movable parts I5 and 8 under their gravitational bias to unlocking position. Upon downward movement limit movement of the detent 8 and lever I5 unof the skip D toward charging position, the first action that will take place will be the movement of the roller 4 into engagement with the camming surface 3a. As movement of the skip D continues, the roller 4 will cam the gate C upward from its normal closed and locked position, in a direction away from its open position to aposition, shown in Fig. 3, which will be referred to as a second closed position, this camming movement of the gate C by engagement of the roller 4 with the cam surface 3a being operative to move the locking roller l0 out of the notch 9 on the detent 8. The gate C reaches the second closed position upon movement of the roller 4 into engagement with the camming surface 3b, which surface, with the gate C in its second closed position, is parallel to the travel of the bucket D. The gate C will be" stationary during the time that the roller 4 is in engagement with the camming surface 3b, and the parts are so positioned that the roller I8 will move out of engagement with the surface 2la while the gate C is in its second closed position, to permit the detent 8 and operating lever I5 to be moved by their gravitational bias to unlocking position, as shown in Fi 3.

Thereafter, upon further continued downward movement of the skip D, the roller 4 willmove into engagement with the camming surface 30, which will permit the gate C to move downwardly under its gravitational bias to open position. As shown in Fig. 3, it should be noted that the cam surface 30 is substantially parallel to the direction of travel-of the roller 4 as the roller 4 moves into engagement with this surface. The gravitational bias of the gate C will maintain the camming surface 30 in engagement with the roller 4 and the speed of opening movement of the gate C will thereby be controlled by the speed of the bucket D. Due to the position of the camming surface 30 with respect to the direction of travel of the roller 4 and the pivotal mounting of the gate C, it will be apparent that initial downward movement of the gate C from its closed position will be relatively slow with respect to the movement of the bucket D at a predetermined point in its path of move-, ment toward charging position. Accordingly, as the bucket D moves toward or way from this predetermined point, it will be apparent that the rate of pivotal movement of the gate C will progressively increase or decrease as the bucket D moves away fromor toward such predetermined point.

After the bucket D has been filled with materials, the gate C will be moved to its closed position upon movement of the bucket D away from its charging position by engagement of the roller 4 with the camming surface 30. When the roller 4 moves onto the camming surface 3b, the gate C and roller I0 will be returned to their so-called second closed position. As this position is.reached, the upper end of the flange 2| will strike the roller l6 and move the lever l5 and detent 8 against its gravitational bias from the position shown in Fig. 3, to a position with the notch 9 underneath the locking roller ID. The roller IE will be maintained in this position, or its locking position, by engagement with the surface Zia until the roller 4 moves into engagement with the camming surface 3a to permit a downward pivotal movement of the gate C from its second closed position under the influence of its gravitational bias toward open position, to its normal closed or locked position'with the roller In in interlocking engagement with the notch 9 of the detent 8. Thereafter, the roller I6 will move out of engagement with the surface He and the roller 4 will move out of engagement with the camming surface 3a, and, the detent 8 and the gate C will be held from movement under the influence of their respective gravitational biases until the subsequent return of the skip D to charging position to effect subsequent actuation of the control mechanism, as before stated.

When the skip D ascends, and after the roller 4 thereon by engagement with the cooperating camming surfaces on the gate has moved the latter to the second closed position, further ascending movement of the skip D will, as explained, result in engagement by the member 2| with the roller 16 on the arm iii of the detent 8, moving the detent in a counter-clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 4. The parts are so proportioned and positioned relatively to each other that, as the roller l6 rides downwardly on the surface 2 la, simultaneous with upward movement of the roller 4 over the camming surface 3a, the gate C will be permitted to rotate in a counter-clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 4, and the pin I0 dropped into the notch 9 of the detent 8. The parts are so proportioned and positioned relatively to each other that the pin H1, in thus dropping into the notch 9, first strikes the right-hand face of such notch 9 viewed in Fig. 4. The weight of the gate, causing the pin It! to settle into the bottom of the notch 9, will cause a slight counter clockwise movement of the detent 8 from'the position in which such detent is maintained by the surface Zla. In this way,

the arm l5 and its'co'ntacting roller l6 will actually be lifted out of engagement with the face Zia of the member 2| by the gate as it settles to its closed position.

When the skip next descends, the roller 16 will not be engaged by the surface 2 la until after the roller 4 has begun movement of the gate C to its "second closed position. This expedient further eliminates undesirable shock to the apparatus in the operation of the latching device.

At this point it may be observed that the camming surface on the gate closure member comprising the sections 3a, 3b, and 30 may be modifled from that shown and described above and still have the apparatus operate in accordance with the principles of my invention. The cam surface 3a. being, when the gate closure member is in its locked position, inclined to the line of movement of the skip, is, of course, relied upon to move the gate closure member into its second closed position so that the roller Ill will be moved out of engagement with the hook 9 in order that the latter may, under its gravitational bias, swing to the unlocked position, and to permit movement of the detent 8 into its locking position when the skip travels upwardly. The camming surface 31) has been shown as arranged substantially parallel to the line of movement of the skip, while the gate is in its second closed position, so that the gate is held in the latter position by the roller 4 for a sufficient length of time during the descent of the skip to permit the detent 8 to move from the locked into the unlocked position, and in the ascent of the skip to permit the detent 8 to move from the unlocked position into the locked position. It is, of course, not necessary that the gate C be stationary during this interval, and it is, therefore, possible to construct the camming surfaces with two angularly related components, suchas 3a. and 30, without an intermediate component, such as 3b, provided the two camming surfaces are so proportioned that the gate C will be moved-under the influence of the roller 4 on the skip, in a counter-clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 4,

for a distance suflicient to permit movement of the detent 8 in a clockwise direction, as viewed in said figure, from the locking position to the unlocking position when the skip descends, and in a counter-clockwise direction from the unlocking position to the locking position when the skip ascends.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that which the locking detent is automatically moved under its gravitational bias to unlocking position contributes to the ease of operation in that this detent is released of all weight before moving to its unlocking position.

It will additionally be apparent that the manner in which the gate C is operated to permit movement of the locking detent 8 provides a cooperation of the respective gravitational biases of the gate C and locking detent 8 toward effecting the desired results.

In connection with the use of the word skip" to describe the device D into which materials are charged, it is to be understood that this word is used in its generic sense and is intended to 75 cover all types of containers or receptacles which are movable to and from a charging position relative to a charging device. understood that the present invention is equally well adapted for use in constructions wherein the skip or receptacle D is mounted for movement in a truly vertical as well as a horizontal plane instead of in an inclined plane, as shown in the drawings.

Other modes of applying the principle of the invention may be employed, change being made as regards the details described, provided the features stated in anyof the following claims, or the equivalent of such, be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention:

1. Apparatus of the character described comprising, in combination, a gate closure member mounted for movement between open and closed positions and having a bias toward its open position, a detent movable between lockingand unlocking positions and having a bias toward its unlocking position, a skip movable on fixed guides, an element mounted on said skip operative responsive to upward movement of said skip to engage said gate when in open position and to lift it to closed position, and a locking part mounted on said gate adapted to interlockably engage with said detent when said detent is in locking position and said gate is in closed position to hold said detent and gate in such positions against their respectivebiases.

2. Apparatus of the character described comprising, in combination, material charging mechanism including a gate closure member mounted for movement between open and closed positions and having a bias towards its open position, a detent movable between locking and unlocking positions and having a bias toward its unlocking position, a skip movable to and from a charging position relative to said gate, an element on said skip operative responsive to upward movement of said skip to engage said gate when in open position and to lift it to closed position, a locking part mounted on said gate adapted tointerlockably engage with said detent when said detent is in looking position and said gate is in closed position to hold said detent and gate in such positions against their respective biases, and means operable upon movement of said skip to a predetermined point in its path of movement toward charging position to effect movement of said locking part out of engagement with said detent to permit movement thereof under its bias to unlocking position.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 together with operating means including a part operable to effect movement of said detent to locking position against its bias, upon movement of said gate to closed position.

4. Apparatus of the character described comprising, in combination, material charging mechanism including a gate closure member movable between open and closed positions, a skip movable to and from a charging position relative to said gate, a detent mounted for movement between locking and unlocking positions and having a bias toward its unlocking position, a locking part mounted on said gate adapted to interlockably engage with said detent when said gate is in a nor! -al closed position and said detent is in its locking position, and means operable upon movement of said skip toward charging position to efiect movement of said gate from its normal closed position to a second closed position, said locking part being movable with said gate out of It will also be I interlocking engagement with said detent to release said detent for movement under its bias to unlocking position upon movement of said gate to said second closed position.

5. Apparatus of the character described comprising, in combination, material charging mechanism including a gate closure member mounted for pivotal movement between open and closed positions, said gate having a bias for movement from closed to open position, a detent movable between locking and unlocking positions and having a bias toward its unlocking position, and a locking part mounted on said gate adapted to interlockably engage with said detent when said detentis in looking position and said gate is in closed position to hold said detent and gate in such positions against their respective biases, a skip movable to and from a charging position relative to said gate, cooperating camming devices carried by said skip and gate operable upon movement of said skip to a predetermined point in the path of its movement toward charging position to effect movement of said gate against its bias out of closed position to a second position with said locking part out of engagement with said detent to permit movement of said detent under its bias to unlocking position, aid camming devices being operable upon continued movement toward charging position to permit movement of said gate under its bias to open position, said camming devices being operable upon movement of said skip away from charging position to effect a return of said gate against its bias to said second position, and operating means including a part carried by said skip for returning said detent to locking position substantially upon movement of said gate from open position to said second position, said camming devices being operative upon further movement of said skip from charging position to permit a further movement of said gate to closed position under its bias to effect movement of said locking part into interlocking engagement with said detent. v

6. Apparatus of the character described comprising in combination, material charging mechanism including a gate closure member mounted for pivotal movement between open and closed positions and having a bias toward open position, a detent movable between locking and unlocking positions and having a bias toward its unlocking position, a locking part carried by said gate and adapted to interlock with said detent when in its locking position and said gate is in its closed position, a skip movable to and from a charging position relative to said te, a member having a camming surface carried by said gate, a cam mounted on said skip engageable with said camming surface upon movement of said skip to a predetermined point in the path of its movement toward charging position to cam said gate from a normal closed position to a second position with said locking part out of engagement with said detent to permit movement of said detent under its bias to unlocking position,

said cam being operable upon movement of said skip to charging position to permit movement of said gate to open position, said cam being operable upon movement of said skip away from charging position to said predetermined point to return said gate to said second position, operating devices respectively carried by said skip and detent and operable to efiect movement of said detent to locking position upon movement of said gate by said skip to said second position,

said cam being operative upon further movement of said skip from charging position to permit movement of said gate under its bias from said second position to its normal closed position to return said locking part into interlocking engagement with said detent.

7. Apparatus as claimed in 6 wherein the operating device carried by said skip is operable to maintain said detent in its locking position during such time as the gate is being moved back and forth between its closed and first positions to effect movement of said locking part into and out of interlocking engagement with said detent.

8. Apparatus of the character described, in combination, a movably supported gate, a skip mounted for movement relative to said gate, a movably supported latch arranged for latching engagement with a portion of said gate, said latch being biased for movement to unlatching position and provided with an actuating part disposed in the path of movement of at least a portion of said skip while said latch is in unlatching position and out the path of such portion while said latch is in the latching position, and cooperating means on said skip and gate efiective upon relative movement between the same while the latter is in latched position to move the gate suificiently to permit said latch to move to unlatching position.

9. Apparatus of the character described, in combination, a movably supported gate, a skip mounted for movement relative to said gate, a movably supported latch arranged for latching engagement with a portion of said gate, said latch being biased for movement to unlatching position and provided with an actuating part disposed in the path of movement of at least a portion of said skip while said latch is in unlatching position, and cooperating means on said skip and gate effective upon relative movement between the same while the latter is in latched position to move the gate sufliciently to permit said latch to move to unlatching position.

10. Apparatus of the character described comprising, in combination, a gate closure member mounted for movement between open and closed positions and having a bias'toward its open position, a detent movable between locking and unlocking positions and having a bias toward its unlocking position, a locking part mounted on said gate movable into engagement with said detent, said detent having a notch therein adapted to receive said locking part, movement of said locking part into engagement with said notch being operative to effect a movement of said detent against its bias to an interlocking position withrsaid locking part holding said gate and said detent, respectively, in closed and locking position against their respective biases, a skip movable to and from a charging position relative to said gate, an element on said skip operative responsive to upward movement of said skip to engage said gate when in open position and to lift it to closed position. i

11. Apparatus of the character described comprising, in combination, a gate closure member mounted for movem'ent between open and closed positions and having a bias toward its open position, a detent movable between looking and unlocking positions and having a bias toward its unlocking position, and a locking part mounted on said gate movable into engagement with said detent, said detent having a notch therein adapted to receive said locking part, means for moving said detent against its bias to a position wherein said notch is adapted to receive said detent, movement of said locking part by the bias of said gate into engagement with said notch being operative to effect a further movement of said detent against its bias to an interlocking position with said locking part holding said gate and said detent, respectively, in closed and locking position against their respective biases, a skip movable to and from a charging position relative to said gate, an element on said skip operative responsive to upward movement of said skip to engage said gate when in open position and to lift it to closed position.

- 12. Apparatus of the character described comprising, in combination, a movably supported gate having a bias toward open position, a skip movable to and from charging positions relative to said gate, an element on said skip operative responsive to upward movement of said skip to engage said gate when in open position and to liit it to closed position, a latch movable between locking and unlocking positions and having a bias toward its unlocking position, said gate having a part inerlockably engageable with said latch for preventing movement of said gate and latch by their respective biases, and means operable upon movement of said skip toward charging position to move said part out of interlocking engagement with said latch to release said latch for movement under its bias to unlocking position,

13. Apparatus of the character described comprising, in combination, a movably supported gate having a bias toward open position, a skip movable on fixed guides to and from charging positions relative to said gate, an element on said skip operative responsive to upward movement of said skip to engage said gate when in open position and to lift it to closed position, a latch' movable between locking and unlocking positions and having a bias toward its unlocking position,

said gate having a part interlockably engageable with said latch for preventing movement of said gate and latch by their respective biases, and means effective upon movement of said skip away from charging position to positively move said latch against its bias to its locking position.

14. Apparatus of the character described, in combination, a movably supported gate, a skip mounted for movement relative to said gate, a

movably supported latch arranged for latching engagement with a portion of said gate, said latch being biased for movement to unlatching position and provided with an actuating part disposed in the path of movement of an element carried by one of said relatively movable parts while said latch is in unlatching position and out of the path of such element while said latch is in the latching position, and cooperating means on said skip and gate effective upon elative movement between the same while the latter is in latched position to move the gate sufliciently to permit said latch to move -to unlatching position. s

I MAHLON E. FIRST, 

